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(No Model.) v 2 sheetsheet 1.

R. W. MEILY 8c G. W. BUCHANAN.

GANE..

(No Model.)

' 2 sheets-sheet 2. R. W. MEILY & G. W. BUCHANAN. A

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No. 489,888 Patented Jan, 8, 1898.

www R 211g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RINGGOLD W. MEILY AND GEORGE W. BUCHANAN, OF LIMA, OHIO.

CAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,385, dated Janna 3, 1893.

Application filed August 8, 1892. Serial No. 442,478. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RINGGOLD W. MEILY and GEORGE W. BUCHANAN, both of Lima, county of Allen, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Canes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of our invention is to provide in the handle of a cane or umbrella, orvthe like, improved recording mechanism suitable for the purpose of making written notes or records of transactions in the manner of a diary for example. It may also be employed for the purpose of keeping permanent, printed, or otherwise prepared records or statistics for reference.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure vl is a side elevation of Vour device, showing the parts in the closed positions; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the device completely open; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the platen removed; Fig/l. is a central longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 1,taken through both spools of the recording mechanism; Fig. 5 is a view of the device open, showing the guide or finger-rest closed upon the platen, and showing a separable portion of manuscript blank.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, l indicates a section of umbrella stick, cane, or the like. 2 indicates a band secured thereto by any suit-able ordinary means, and adapted to hold a shell 3, preferably cylindrical in shape. The shell may be made of any suitable material, and be ornamented in any appropriate manner. The band 2 should also be of suitable design, and should furnish a suitable covering or nish for the junction of the shell and the stick.

4. indicates a shutter, fitting closely around the shell, preferably between annular ribs 5 near the opposite extremities of the shell. The shutter is rotatable upon the shell, but is preferably limited in its rotary movement by a peripheral slot 6 in the shutter, and apin 7 projecting from the shell into the slot. The shell and the shutter are provided, respectively, with suitable oblong apertures 8 and 9, which are preferably coextensive. By the rotation of the shutter upon the shell these apertures may be made to register with each other, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, for example, or the shutter may be rotated so as to close the apertures and present the smooth finished appearance shown in Fig. 1. The shell, as the term suggests, is hollow, and is adapted to contain a suitable tablet, preferably a continuous strip of paper; and also suitable mechanism for causing it to pass at will in front of the registered apertures in the shell and in the shutter. We have illustrated a desirable form of mechanism for accomplishing this result. It is adapted to be used for the purpose of making and preserving a continuous record, or for carrying a roll of paper upon which a record may be written and separated from the roll.

10 and 11 indicate heads in the opposite ends of the shell, within which are provided suitable bearings for spools. These spools may be made of any suitable material, and in any desirable manner, but we prefer to make them of two pieces ot' spring metal suitably united together, and provided with suitable journals l2 at their opposite ends to turn in the bearings in the heads of theshell. The pieces forming the spools may be conveniently made of half round wire, so as to form, when combined together, a split cylinder between the parts of which the ends of a roll of paper 13, for example, may be inserted and thereby retained. Where We make and preserve a continuous. record, we prefer to employ two spools, to which respectively the opposite ends of the strip of paper are united. By this means the strip may be wound from one spool to the other, for the purpose of making a record, or for convenience of reference to it after it shall have been made.

For convenience of making entries we prefer to employ a suitable platen 14, adapted to almost entirely cover the aperture in the shell. For this purpose we provide ledges 15 at the ends of the aperture, and suitable means for securing the platen thereon, as for example pins 16 adapted to enter openings 17 in the ledges. In practice, where two spools are employed, the record strip is passed from one spool over the platen to the other, so that a surface to be inspected or written upon is exposed smoothly and evenly over the top of the platen. At the same time the strip serves to assist in holding the platen firmly in place.

18 indicates a guide or finger-rest, pivoted as indicated at 19 Within the aperture in the shell, and adapted to move freely upon its pivot within the apertures in the shell and in the shutter. In the open position, as shown in Fig. 2 this piece performs the office of a finger-rest for making records upon the strip of paper. It is preferably provided with a recess 20. It serves as aguide when the piece is closed upon the platen on top of the paper. This guide may be used for the purpose of guiding a pencil in drawing straight lines upon the paper, or when one spool is used it may be employed as a guide for tearing off portions of the paper from the strip.

Suitable mechanism for conveniently operating the spools should be provided, and we have illustrated a simple form for that purpose. As shown it consists of extensions 21 for the journals of the spools through the upper head of the shell, so that the spools may be conveniently turned between the thumb and finger. These extensions are preferably composed of elongated pinions for convenience of manipulation, and their tension is controlled by a spring 22 located between the extensions of the journals and the head of the shell so as to press yieldingly against the lower end of said extensions in the manner of all ordinary spring tension devices Which depend upon the gentle pressure ot' a spring upon some moving part.

23 indicates a cap adapted to cover and [inish the head of the stick, and may be secured in any suitable and convenient manner, as by a hinge 24 on one side, and a spring catch 25 on the other.

We desire it to be distinctly understood that we do notlimit ourselves to the details of construction hereinbefore set forth; but reserve to ourselves the right to vary them at will Within the scope of our invention.

What we claim iszl. The combination with a hollow stick or handle provided with an exposing aperture and carrying a continuous recording strip, and mechanism for shifting it located Within the stick, or handle, a platen partly covering the aperture and a rotating shutter adapted to expose or conceal the recording strip, substantially as specied.

2. The combination with a stick or handle, of a recording tablet therein and a movable finger-rest in juxtaposition to the recording tablet, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a hollow stick or handle provided with an aperture in its side, a platen covering the aperture, a spool beneath the platen adapted to carrya recording strip, and a pivoted recessed `guide or finger-rest, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Il. The combination with a hollow stick or handle and heads in its opposite ends, of a spool revolnbly carried therein, and an extension through the upper head of the spool by which the spool may be operated,and a cap for covering the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of all which We have hereunto subscribed our names.

RINGGOLD W. MEILY. GEORGE \V. BUCHANAN.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH L. ArKINs, GEO. C. PoULro'N. 

